PM invokes parliamentary privilege in defamation case Re Candidate not Running for $

[RedHot25]

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/...l.html?ref=rss

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is invoking parliamentary privilege to avoid being called as a witness in a defamation case launched against him by a former Conservative foot soldier.

Alan Riddell, who claims Conservative officials promised him $50,000 when he stepped down as a candidate in the last federal election, is suing Harper for allegedly libelling him in the media during the last federal election.

....

Riddell had supported the Conservative party for more than 25 years, raising funds and managing campaigns.

He had intended to run in the riding of Ottawa South in November 2005. But the Tories wanted to run a star candidate — sponsorship-scandal whistleblower Alan Cutler.

Riddell said he agreed to step aside, for the good of the party, in exchange for as much as $50,000 in expenses, but the Conservatives have refused to pay.

...

The Conservative party was, at first, reluctant to admit it had made the deal at all.

During the last election campaign, Harper told reporters there was no such agreement.

Earlier this year, a judge ruled the deal did exist and ordered the party to pay.

[Slava]

Maybe the conservatives can't afford this with the added expense of their new (relatively) war room!